Get Thee Behind Me

‘Everyone it seems, from the ordinary Kuwaiti in the street, to the sophisticated planners in the Pentagon was taken by surprise by Saddam Hussein’s strike at his tiny neighbour in the small hours of this morning...'

[George Bush]
‘The brutal aggression launched last night against Kuwait, illustrates my central thesis: the world remains a dangerous place, with serious threats to important US interests.'

President Bush convened an emergency session of the Security Council. The invasion was condemned, sanctions lеvied, and Iraq’s assets frozen thе following day.

‘Iraq was to suffer economic isolation and intense hardship until it relented. It was, perhaps, the most complete blockade of a country seen in recent times.’

The US State Department then sent a message to the countries of the Arab League.

"The West has done its duty, but the Arab nations are doing nothing. If they do not take a firm stand on the Kuwait affair, they can be sure that in the future they will no longer be able to count on America."

With the world united, hopes were high that the Security Council would now be an effective force for peace.

[Lawerence Eagleburger]
‘Mr President, this is a far more important issue than simply the invasion of Kuwait. This is, in its own way, the first real test of this New World Order that we’re trying to put together.’

But US officials were pushing to get troops into the Gulf.

'The administration turned to Prince Bandar, the Saudi ambassador to the United States.'

Producing satellite photos, they claimed Iraqi troops were heading for the Saudi Border, and could attack within 48 hours. Permission was granted to base US forces in Saudi Arabia. In fact, 40,000 troops were already on their way to the Gulf. Now war planes were sent to join them.

[George Bush]
‘I took this action to assist the Saudi Arabian government in the defence of its homeland’.

Bush told Congress that 120,000 Iraqi troops had moved toward the Saudi border. DIA analysts who saw Soviet satellite pictures later commented…

"We didn’t see anything to indicate an Iraqi force in Kuwait of even 20% the size the administration claimed."

US intelligence reported that troops were in fact pulling back into Southern Iraq.

[Colin Powell]
‘Saddam might well not have intended to invade Saudi Arabia, but there must have been great temptation. […] It was a period of great vulnerability for Saudi Arabia and for our interests in that part of the world.’

[Dick Cheney]
‘When you look at the map, unless you get into Saudi Arabia, there’s very little you can do.’

In mid August, three Iraqi peace proposals were made. The third was welcomed in a statement by the Saudis, urging Kuwait to negotiate. Two days later, the Saudis retracted it as Airforce Chief of Staff Michael Dugan assured the press that:

"…we’re postured for a joint attack."

‘Initially the deployment of American and other forces after the invasion was simply defensive […] The President was quite clear about it.'

'The Commander-in-Chief General Norman Schwarzkopf ruled out any attempt to recover Kuwait by force.'

In the meantime, Resolutions flowed from the Security Council.
(Resolutions flowed from the United Nations.)

A blockade was sanctioned. Dependent on imported food, Iraq now faced starvation.

On September 4th, James Baker said that US goals now included the destruction of Iraq’s military. On September 15th, Dugan said targets would include…

"…what is unique about Iraqi culture, that they put very high value on, that psychologically would make an impact."

'If push came to shove, the cutting edge would be downtown Baghdad. If I want to hurt you, it would be at home, not out in the woods someplace’

Over 100,000 troops were now stationed in the Gulf, without Congressional debate or authority – and the build up continued.

'In the biggest operation since World War 2, Western equipment and troops have been landing at the Saudi port of Dubail, less than 200 miles from Kuwait.'

Questions were asked.

‘Why should the west defend a country which has no democracy?’

[Tony Banks M.P.]
‘When he was gassing his own Kurdish people, when he was invading Iran.....where were all the clever politicians then?’

And answers given.

‘The President’s stated reasons varied. From upholding international law, to protecting oil fields, to putting down a new Hitler, improving regional security and saving American jobs.
('I don’t believe even Adolf Hitler participated in anything of that nature.’)

[Humphrey Harrison]
‘Their concern in the region is purely and simply oil.’

[George Bush]
‘Our jobs, our way of life, our own freedom would all suffer if control of the world’s great oil reserves fell into the hands of that one man, Saddam Hussein.’

[David Steele]
'We built up his technology…’

[Humphrey Harrison]
‘We armed him, we fed him, we gave him his confidence […] …we made him what he is.’

[George Bush]
‘So it isn’t oil that we’re concerned about, it is aggression’

‘The Assistant Energy Secretary, ….Mr. Elliot, spelt it out, actually, he said:

…it’s all about… O...’

[George Bush]
‘…just wait…’

'I'

‘… watch and learn.’

'L'